South Africa - Researched and compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on 17, 18 & 19 October 2011

Information on a Muslim group called MQM, including their treatment of Hindus and moderate Muslims, what options are available to those fearing them; what protection is available to those fearing other South African criminal groups

In March 2010 the Daily Financial Post states:

“Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), South Africa celebrated the 26th foundation day of MQM at International Exhibition Centre, in Durban” (Daily Financial Post (9 March 2010) :MQM Durban celebrates party's foundation day).

An article from The Guardian in September 2010 points out that:

“The MQM is the fourth largest political party in Pakistan, and the dominant party in . It was founded in 1984 by Hussain, a former Chicago cab driver, and won broad support among the "mohajirs" - Muslims who fled India after partition in 1947. The party prided itself on its well-oiled machine and its secular, liberal outlook. But British police sources have said it was also linked to extortion, gun smuggling and South African crime networks” (The Guardian (17 September 2010) Imran Farooq murdered outside home).

The Pak Tribune in October 2010 states:

“Reportedly, Altaf is seriously considering shifting his party`s international secretariat to Dubai or Johannesburg since he and his colleagues feel London has become an unsafe place for them. South Africa is also being considered where MQM workers have established a strong base and where India also has a heavy presence. A month back a rumor was in circulation that the MQM had ordered its elite terrorist wing to move from South Africa to Pakistan to make Karachi Beirut of Pakistan; each member was equipped with multiple passports and identity cards; master mind was Qamar Ghalib Teddy, Sohail Commando, Rizwan Haiderand Nadeem Mullah” (Pak Tribune (4 October 2010) Murder of MQM leader Imran Farooq in London).

The South Asian Media Network in August 2011 notes:

“Altaf Hussain self exiled leader of MQM-A caught escaping to South Africa by the authorities.” (South Asian Media Network (28 August 2011) Altaf Hussain caught escaping to South Africa?).

This report also points out:

“According to reports both Khalid Shamim and another MQM-A terrorists who were arrested in Karachi while arriving from Colombo actually called in to be eliminated in Karachi by their own party MQM-A. They had crucial information related to Dr Imran Farooq's murder as well as target killing cells in various countries including South Africa” (ibid).

In April 2011 a report issued by the United States Department of State notes:

“Large, well organized criminal syndicates also operate freely throughout the country” (United States Department of State (30 April 2011) South Africa 2011 OSAC Crime and Safety Report, p.5).

In August 2010 IOL News states:

“No person has ever been killed while on the National Prosecuting Authority's witness protection programme, NPA spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said on Friday” (IOL News (20 August 2010) Nobody killed in NPA witness protection).

A paper produced in 2010 by the Institute for Security Studies notes:

“In the Apartheid-era the security sector was geared toward prosecuting political opponents and guerrilla movements, with little experience of dealing with organised criminal syndicates. Recent crime rates suggest the corner has not been completely turned on this issue” (Institute for Security Studies (2010) The Justice Sector Afterthought: Witness Protection in Africa, p.101).

This report also notes:

“The contemporary protection programme performed successfully when evaluated on its ability to protect organised crime witnesses. The one death that occurred demonstrates the high level of threat posed to gang violence witnesses. The murder occurred after a witness contacted family members through channels prohibited under his agreement. The witness asked his family to visit him and organised criminal elements who were watching the family followed them to the witness, who they then murdered” (ibid, p.103)

The United States Department of State in March 2011 point out in a report that:

“According to a study published in April 2010 by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), a local think tank, organized crime in Southern Africa is on the rise, and South Africa has become the central hub for the spread of organized crime across southern Africa” (United States Department of State (3 March 2011) International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2011 (Volume I: Drug and Chemical Control): South Africa).

No further information on these issues could be found among sources available to the RDC.

References

Daily Financial Post (9 March 2010) Pakistan:MQM Durban celebrates party's foundation day http://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/ (Accessed 18 October 2011) This is a subscription database

The Guardian (17 September 2010) Imran Farooq murdered outside London home http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/17/imran-farooq-murdered-london-home (Accessed 18 October 2011)

Institute for Security Studies (2010) The Justice Sector Afterthought: Witness Protection in Africa http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/Books/WitnessProt4.pdf (Accessed 18 October 2011)

IOL News (20 August 2010) Nobody killed in NPA witness protection http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/nobody-killed-in-npa-witness-protection- 1.673634 (Accessed 19 October 2011)

Pak Tribune (4 October 2010) Murder of MQM leader Imran Farooq in London http://paktribune.com/articles/Murder-of-MQM-leader-Imran-Farooq-in-London- 232179.html (Accessed 18 October 2011)

South Asian Media Network (28 August 2011) Altaf Hussain caught escaping to South Africa? http://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/ (Accessed 18 October 2011) This is a subscription database

United States Department of State (30 April 2011) South Africa 2011 OSAC Crime and Safety Report https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportPDF.aspx?cid=10934 (Accessed 18 October 2011)

United States Department of State (3 March 2011) International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2011 (Volume I: Drug and Chemical Control): South Africa http://www.ein.org.uk/ (Accessed 18 October 2011) This is a subscription database

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Refugee Documentation Centre within time constraints. This response is not and does not purport to be conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please read in full all documents referred to.

Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Bertelsmann Transformation Index BBC News The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation Dispatch Online Electronic Immigration Network European Country of Origin Information Network Freedom House Google Human Rights Watch Human Security Gateway Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Institute for Security Studies Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre International Crisis Group International Relations and Security Network IRIN News Lexis Nexis Mail and Guardian Minority Rights Group International Online Newspapers Refugee Documentation Centre E-Library Refugee Documentation Centre Query Database Reliefweb Reuters Home Office United States Department of State UNHCR Refworld